As speculation mounted on Maurice Fitzgerald's future with the Kerry senior footballers, team manager Páidi Ó Sé said the Cahersiveen maestro still has a crucial role to play in his plans for the year.
Word had spread in the wake of Kerry's 0-11 to 1-5 defeat to Roscommon in the Allianz National Football League (Division 1), that Fitzgerald had retired from inter-county duty.
That followed his omission from the starting 15 for the match. Even though listed among the substitutes, the 1997 player of the year did not travel to Dr Hyde Park for the game, thus igniting speculation that he was unhappy with the decision not to start him.
"Maurice has an amount to offer this team and I hope to have him back. He was in New York the week before and that was part of the reason why he was not selected to play against Roscommon," confirmed Ó Sé.
The Kerry manager went on to say Mike Frank Russell had been in America a few weeks earlier and he showed all the signs of weariness on his return.
Ó Sé spoke again with Fitzgerald this morning. He confirmed the discussions were amicable.
When asked did he think the St Mary's Cahersiveen star was planning to retire from the Kerry panel, he said: "I shouldn't think so and I hope not."
Ó Sé pointed out that Fitzgerald was "very much up" for the Roscommon game on Sunday and added he regretted not discussing the situation with him before the game.
There was much disappointment around Kerry that Fitzgerald failed to start any of the six championship games on their All-Ireland glory trail, which culminated in victory over Galway.
Although Fitzgerald was introduced against Cork and Clare in the Munster Championship, he failed to make the starting line-up against Armagh in the semi-final replay and Galway in the All-Ireland final.
His omission from the starting line-up for the replay against Armagh left many people bewildered in his native county, especially given the fact that he was instrumental in transforming the outcome of the game. Fitzgerald scored a superb individual goal and the crucial equalising point.
The selectors' decision to include the ace forward in the side for the Offaly game a fortnight ago left many Fitzgerald supporters of the opinion that he was back in contention for a place in the Kerry side for the year.
He scored two points in that defeat, but his inclusion among the substitutes for the Roscommon game could well mark the end of the career of one of footballing's finest present-day players.
It would be a huge disappointment to the footballing fraternity in Kerry if Fitzgerald was to quit inter-county level. Football enthusiasts rank Fitzgerald alongside his good friend, the great Mick O'Connell, Sean Purcell and Mick O'Dwyer and many people feel he has plenty to offer the green and gold of Kerry.